RP-2004-10

This revenue procedure prescribes the salvage discount factors for the 2003 accident year. These factors must be used to compute discounted estimated salvage recoverable under § 832 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 832(b)(5)(A) requires that all estimated salvage recoverable (including that which cannot be treated as an asset for state accounting purposes) be taken into account in computing the deduction for losses incurred. Under § 832(b)(5)(A), paid losses are to be reduced by salvage and reinsurance recovered during the taxable year. This amount is adjusted to reflect changes in discounted unpaid losses on nonlife insurance contracts and in unpaid losses on life insurance contracts. An adjustment is then made to reflect any changes in discounted estimated salvage recoverable and in reinsurance recoverable.

Pursuant to § 832(b), the amount of estimated salvage is determined on a discounted basis in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary.

This revenue procedure applies to any taxpayer that is required to discount estimated salvage recoverable under § 832.

.01 The following tables present separately for each line of business the discount factors under § 832 for the 2003 accident year. All the discount factors presented in this section were determined using the applicable interest rate under § 846(c) for 2003, which is 5.27 percent, and by assuming all estimated salvage is recovered in the middle of each calendar year. See Rev. Proc. 2003-18, 2003-6 I.R.B. 439, for background regarding the tables.

.02 These tables must be used by taxpayers irrespective of whether they elected to discount unpaid losses using their own historical experience under § 846.

.03 Section V of Notice 88-100, 1988-2 C.B. 439, provides a composite discount factor to be used in determining the discounted unpaid losses for accident years that are not separately reported on the NAIC Annual Statement. The tables separately provide discount factors for taxpayers who elect to use the composite method. Rev. Proc. 2002-74, 2002-2 C.B. 980, clarifies that for certain insurance companies subject to tax under § 831 the composite method for discounting unpaid losses set forth in Notice 88-100, section V, 1988-2 C.B. 439, is permitted but not required. This revenue procedure further provides alternative methods for computing discounted unpaid losses that are permitted for insurance companies not using the composite method, and sets forth a procedure for insurance companies to obtain automatic consent of the Commissioner to change to one of the methods described in Rev. Proc. 2002-74.

.04 Tables.

Taxpayers that use the composite method of Notice 88-100 should use 97.4648 percent to discount salvage recoverable as of the end of the 2013 taxable year with respect to losses incurred in this line of business in 2003 and prior years.

The principal author of this revenue procedure is Katherine A. Hossofsky of the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions & Products). For further information regarding this revenue procedure, contact Ms. Hossofsky at (202) 622-8435 (not a toll-free call).